Cinco de Derby, a Kentucky Derby Viewing Party at NU Hotel Brooklyn

NU Hotel Brooklyn will be hosting Cinco de Derby, a mashup event that is a combination of a Cinco de Mayo celebration and Kentucky Derby party.

Simultaneously celebrating the running of the 143rd Kentucky Derby and the Mexican independence day holiday, Cinco de Derby will serve up both Margaritas and mint juleps in this fiesta to watch the greatest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby. The patio will be open and feature games for guests to play.

Highlights of the Day Include:

- Viewing of the 143rd Kentucky Derby
- Drink specials: Tequila Juleps and Bourbon Margaritas
- Complimentary Cinco de Derby snacks
- Games on the patio

The party is free and open to the public.

Downtown Brooklyn

RSVP: Cinco de Derby Tickets


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Easter Egg Hunt at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, this Saturday

Bring the kids to Fort Greene Park this Saturday for Councilmember Laurie Cumbo's District 35 Easter Egg Hunt.

Join BAM for arts and crafts, enjoy storytime or sign up for a library card with the Brooklyn Public Library, hop along to music from a DJ, and enjoy magic and face painting. The Easter Bunny might make a special appearance...

There will be 2,000 prize-filled eggs available for the taking. BYOB - Bring Your Own Basket.


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Saturday: Spring Festival & Family Day at Amersfort Park, Flatlands, Brooklyn

On Saturday, April 15, enjoy the spring weather, music, arts and crafts, games and an Easter Egg hunt at Amersfort Park, E. 38 St. bet. Ave. I and Ave. J in Flatlands, Brooklyn.


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Sex in a Bushwick Bathroom; Love Comes to Babeland; Valezquez Calls for Russian Investigation; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Spreading the love on Valentines Day, by handing out Valentine Day cards to our community. Its the Brooklyn North Way @NYPDnews @NYPD79Pct pic.twitter.com/jHafBjhBSL

— NYPDBrooklynNorth (@NYPDBklynNorth) February 14, 2017

- Elderly cabbie leaves 65-year-old man clinging to life after he strikes him in Marine Park crosswalk. [Daily News]

- 27 percent of those surveyed by Bushwick Daily reported having sex in a Bushwick bar or restaurant. [Bushwick Daily]

- Love comes to Babeland sex boutiques just in time for Valentine’s Day. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- New York City is investigating three recent cases — one of them fatal — of a rare disease transmitted through rat urine. [NY Times]

- Brooklyn Rep. Nydia Velazquez ‏has renewed her call for a Special Counsel to investigate Russian hacking of election given Flynn's resignation. [Letter]

- Brooklyn man campaigns to house Muslim refugees in Trump Tower. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Former Brooklyn HS hoops star arrested in Jersey City on fraud, identity theft charges. [NJ.com]

- Members of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election. [NY Times]

Someone in Brooklyn is projecting a pregnant Trump, and Putin, on the side of a building. pic.twitter.com/vRxX37rTLO

— Internet Palace (@InternetPalace) February 15, 2017

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1000 NYC Bodegas Go On Strike Today; That Nazi-Punching Film Fest; a Poopy Kind of Love; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Hold the coffee: NYC’s Yemeni bodegas go on strike today to protest Trump’s travel ban. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Bizarre video: Man smoking crack sets himself on fire in Brooklyn. [Daily News]

- There’s a Nazi-punching film festival going down in Brooklyn. [AV Club]

- Celebrate your Valentine's love with a visit to a wastewater treatment plant in Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Over a dozen tech company leaders in Brooklyn have signed a letter criticizing Donald Trump's Muslim ban. [Patch]

- Former Brooklyn math tutor gets just three years’ probation in sexual assault of his 6-year-old pupil. [Daily News]

- Brooklyn protest to call for boycott of Israeli dance company. [Mondoweiss]

Jackie Robinson, the pioneer who broke the game’s color barrier, signs his contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/c7oqcSdhtX

— MLB (@MLB) February 1, 2017

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Get Your Kwanzaa On In Brooklyn This Friday

Brooklyn Cultural Arts Coalition presents a great afternoon and evening of Kwanzaa activities this Friday, Dec. 30, at Boys and Girls High School.

Activities include African dance, movement and drum workshops, performances and community ceremonies.

See the poster above for full details.


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Parking Solution for Over-the-Top Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn?

Annual Dyker Heights light displays bring holiday cheer: https://t.co/RjmvToDiOS pic.twitter.com/VpUmBK0t9l

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) December 3, 2016

It's holiday season again in Dyker Heights. The annual Christmas display, which gets more elaborate every year, is said to draw more than 100,000 visitors to Brooklyn from across the country.

This charming event draws so many tour buses, however, that police recently revoked parking privileges for locals along 86th Street between 11th and 13th Avenues from 5 p.m. to midnight. This drew quite an outcry from residents.

Now, according to Bensonhurst Bean, NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Steven Powers has decided to revise the controversial plan, and reserve only three bus lengths along 86th Street for buses.

A reasonable solution?

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 🎄#christmaslights @yourtake @NYCDailyPics @nycfeelings @nyc pic.twitter.com/9Ocz68ze25

— Mickey (@MickmickNYC) December 2, 2016

How to get to Dyker Heights and tips for your trip.

Sam the Greek's house, nicknamed the "Las Vegas of Brooklyn," is one of the highlights of @BKNYbus_tours Dyker Heights tour! #inbrooklyn pic.twitter.com/CB2mbflflM

— NYC & Company (@nycgo_press) December 2, 2016

The creativity is amazing.

#dykerheights #christmaslights #dykerlights pic.twitter.com/oYvBZcADYN

— Josie (@juzifin29) December 4, 2016

Ground zero for Christmas lights in Dyker Heights is between 81st and 83rd streets and 11 and 13 avenues. Commenters on Yelp say try to walk it if you can for the best experience.

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Celtic Thunder Singer Emmet Cahill’s “Christmas in Ireland” Concert in Brooklyn

 Emmet Cahill, Irish tenor and principal vocalist with the Irish music show Celtic Thunder, will present a concert of seasonal favorites and share many of his childhood Christmas memories in “Christmas in Ireland” on Thursday, December 15th at 7:30 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn. The concert is open to the public.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the New York City area over the past few years and it is truly a magical place in the lead-up to Christmas,” Cahill said in a release. “I cannot wait to make some more magical memories in such as beautiful setting as we will have at Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

Cahill’s holiday concert will feature a variety of music, including classical pieces, church hymns, well-loved Irish songs and Christmas favorites.

Seamus Brett will accompany Cahill on the piano and the organ.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church is located at 2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Windsor Terrace/Kensington , half a block from the Ft. Hamilton stop on the F or G line.

Ticket prices vary and may be purchased online and also at the church rectory. For more information, contact Steven Vaughan at (718) 871-1310, ext. 14.


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Harley Quinn Top Trending Halloween Costume in NYC, but in Missoula, It's "Pig"

Street art. Photo: MK Metz

Google's Freightgeist trends analysis app confirms what astute Halloween costume prognosticators had predicted: Batman super-villainess Harley Quinn is going to be EVERYWHERE during tonight's Halloween mayhem.

This is true not only in New York City but nationwide, where Harley Quinn rules as the number one costume search on Google. This includes cities as diverse as Miami, Richmond, El Paso and Salt Lake City.

In New York City, the second top-trending costume is the all-inclusive "Superhero." In third place is the "Joker," then "Wonder Woman" and "Witch."

While most of the country is dressing up like superheros or villains,  witches, clowns or cartoon characters like Minnie Mouse (oddly popular), some parts of these United States have some pretty quirky top costumes.

The weirdest state seems to be Montana. For example, the number one costume around Missoula, Montana is "Pig."

What the hell is going on up there?

In Great Falls, Montana, the top costume is "Flamingo."

Have those people ever even seen a flamingo?

Here's one that really has us stumped. The number one costume in Helena, Montana is "Gumball Machine."

We can imagine one or even two clever folks dressing up as gumball machines over in Helena. But the top costume in the whole town? Is there an army of gumball machines getting ready to march tonight in Helena? Should we be doing something about this?

Here are a few more that just seem a bit unusual as number one costume in the whole town:

Kirksville, Missouri: "Old Lady."
Sherman, Texas: "Shark."
Jonesboro, Arkansas: "Gangster."
Utica, NY: "Dalmation."
Tallahassee, Florida: "Disco."

Check out your local Freightgeist here.


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Murder at J'Ouvert; Antisemitic Truther Speaking at Brooklyn Commons; and More Brooklyn Briefs

See photos from the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn https://t.co/azLJtOXIoY pic.twitter.com/C7kOoEfrjI

— Newsday (@Newsday) September 6, 2016

- Despite 200 light towers and double the number of cops, violence erupted at the start of the J'ouvert celebration in Crown Heights Monday morning, leaving two people dead and four others injured. [abc7]

- ‘Law and Order’ actor will run for NYC mayor in 2017. [NY Post]

- Outcry over Brooklyn Commons hosting "antisemitic truther" Christopher Bollyn. [JewSchool]

- Police need help finding a 60-year-old Brooklyn man who went missing nearly a month ago. [Pix11]

- Everything you ever wanted to know about a Brooklyn building called “Turn Verein." [Brownstoner]

- Thai restaurant Samui opens soon in Brooklyn Navy Yard. [News12]

- Is Rudy Giuliani losing his mind?  [Politico]

Apartment Broker Recommends Brooklyn Residents Spend No More Than 150% Of Income On Rent https://t.co/fJdBE2nB6L pic.twitter.com/L15k7xNQLM

— The Onion (@TheOnion) September 5, 2016

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Where to Go, What to Do in Brooklyn July 4th Weekend

We've compiled a list of lists: the best ideas for what to do and where to go this 4th of July weekend in Brooklyn. (Some greater NYC ideas included as well!)

- The 25 best cheap things to do in Brooklyn this weekend, Fourth of July! edition. [Brokelyn]

- 4th of July 2016 weekend NYC event guide [Brooklyn Vegan]

- Weekend Events for Brooklyn & NYC: July 1st-4th [A Child Grows in Brooklyn]

- What to Do this Weekend? [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Where to watch the 4th of July fireworks in Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Some more ideas of where to watch the fireworks. [Mommy Poppins]

- Where to watch the fireworks if you want to pay for a spot. [amNY]


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Bernie PLays B-Ball Like a True Brooklynite; Judge Mulls Pierhouse Case; and More Brooklyn Briefs

New York Daily News calls voters "mindless zombies" over Trump win
https://t.co/N6hTTZVv8t #NHPrimary pic.twitter.com/Df5dcEste0

— The Hill (@thehill) February 10, 2016

Now here's a newspaper front page for ya.

- Brooklyn Judge mulling Pierhouse penthouse arguments. At issue is 20-foot wedge of $6 million penthouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Tuesday at high tide, the polluted waters of the Gowanus were level with the base of Lightstone Group's residential building. [PMFA]

- Brooklyn Nets TV ratings continue to drop. [Nets Daily]

-  Lunar New Year symbols and customs explained. [Sheepshead Bites]

- Tax accountant sets up shop in a Brooklyn bar. [Fox5]

- Coney Island boardwalk landmark fight gains momentum, pols push to save the wood. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Caught on video: Crook robs liquor store on Fulton Street after crawling in through ceiling. [abc]

- How to shop at Costco without a membership (or a car). [Brokelyn]

And finally: Q: How is Bernie making every shot? A: "He's from Brooklyn."

"Is this a joke? How is he making every one?"
"He's from Brooklyn" #FeelTheBern @BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/uLHojOfqaQ

— akhi DOOM (@eatinghalalfood) February 10, 2016

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Don't Have a Sweetheart? There's an Anti-Valentine's Party at Littlefield in Brooklyn

Don't have a Valentine's date? You have two choices this weekend.

One is  Littlefield's "It's Friday. I'm not in love" party.

Littlefield in Brooklyn says, "Leave the expensive brunches and Airbnb staycations to the lovebirds. Free yourself from the chains of Valentine's Day this year," and party on Friday, Feb. 12.

Don't worry, it's not going to be a laugh riot. Littlefield knows you're gloomy. They advise you to "Wear black on the outside, ‘cause black is how you feel on the inside. No, seriously: Dress in black. All black. Only black."

All through the night, Littlefield will have the suitably-named DJ Gordon Gloom (Feeling Gloomy, YDH2S) spinning "music you can dance to with someone you love (yourself)."

Valentine's Day

  On Sunday, Valentine's Day, Littklefield's presents "The Rejection Show Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven"

It's the "Super Bowl" of Rejection Shows, celebrating Valentine's Day with an evening of the best breakup, heartbreak, and love related performances/stories from shows past, present, and future -- blending into an evening of love songs, live music, and a party.

Littlefield says if you're single, feeling alone, rejected, don't have a date or simply don't like traditional Valentine's Day routines then this is for you.

(Don't feel left out, happy couples. All are welcome.)
 

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Recycle your Christmas Tree at MulchFest in Brooklyn This Weekend

Help the environment and recycle your Christmas tree:

On Saturday, January 9, or Sunday, January 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bring your tree to the Third Street entrance of Prospect Park or the Park Circle entrance at Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest, and it will be turned into environment-friendly ground cover. You can take home free mulch for your own garden.

While you wait for your mulch, you can enjoy hot chocolate, served by the Park Slope Civic Council or become a Civic Council member.

Can't make it? If you live in the area bounded by Union Street, Sixth Avenue, 15th Street, and Prospect Park West, you can leave your tree at either end of your block before 11 a.m. on Saturday and volunteers will pick it up and bring it to the 3rd Street entrance of the Park.

To volunteer, e-mail the Civic Council's Sustainability Committee, sustainability@parkslopeciviccouncil.org or come to the Third Street entrance of the Park.

MulchFest is co-sponsored by the Park Slope Civic Council in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance, with special help from 1-800 Mr. Rubbish and U-Haul.
_____________

Update: To check out other parks holding their own Mulchfest events, visit: nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest
_____________

Update 2: If you can't make it to MulchFest, the Department of Sanitation will begin its annual Christmas tree curbside collection program from Monday, January 4 through Friday, January 15.
Clean, non-bagged Christmas trees left on the curb will be chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost for the city’s parks, institutions, and community gardens.  


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Say Goodbye to 2015: A Big Listing of Brooklyn New Year's Eve Parties

Photo by MK Metz

From restaurants with special New Year's Eve menus to blow-out bars to free beer: It's out with he old and in with the new (year) in Brooklyn.

No matter what neighborhood you find yourself in on New Year's Eve, there's a party waiting for you nearby.

Here's a compilation of compilations of favorite New Year's Eve  destinations. (We tried to avoid duplication, but there's bound to be a bit.)

Great Big Brooklyn Grab-bag of Parties

Brooklyn Magazine has compiled their favorite 22 New Year's Eve parties, raves and shows in neighborhoods including Williamsburg, DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, Downtown, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Fort Greene and more. (Like, for example, a warehouse party via The Kymberle Project, offering a live art installation, painting op and aerialists gracing the warehouse ceiling.)

Brokelyn has outdone itself and compiled 57 banging New Year's Eve parties -- including 19 free ones. Bash locations range from Bed-Stuy to Boerum Hill, from sedate little joints to warehouses with acrobats -- and NYC’s only psytrance party.

In case you missed any, Brownstoner has also compiled a list of 8 or 9 musical parties.

Greenpoint

Greenpointers has put together a list of restaurants, buffets, clubs and bars with special New Year's offerings. These range from the Museum of Food and Drink (with a pig roast, open bar, buffet-style global feast, live flamenco and dance music) to a New Year’s Karaoke night at The Diamond.

Musical New Year's Eve

Brooklyn Vegan lists a number of ways to ring in the New Year with music, including They Might Be Giants at Brooklyn's Music Hall at Williamsburg and a Mr. New Year's Party at a secret location.

Justice and Bob Moses are set to headline yet another secret Brooklyn warehouse party (with food and drinks, of course). More at Billboard.

Fireworks In Coney Island

 It's like Times Square without all the tourists: Hit Coney Island's Boardwalk (Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue) before 9 p.m. Check out the countdown to the digital ball drop on the Parachute Jump. (Also: live music, food and free admission to Abe Stark Rink, B&B Carousell, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, and Thunderbolt roller coaster.)

Fireworks in Park Slope
Live entertainment, DJs and hot chocolate await at Prospect Park's fireworks exhibition, starting at 11 p.m.



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Brooklyn Heights Christmas Lights and Sights

Photos by MK Metz

A nighttime Christmas Eve walk demonstrates that even staid old Brooklyn Heights gets into the holiday spirit.

Above, a sparkling bear ambles between windows on Remsen Street.

No matter the holiday, the building housing the Mini Max on Atlantic Avenue packs its second story ledge with fun celebratory figures. Santa and snowmen share the stage with the baby Jesus. All's good!

This Remsen Street brownstone makes a statement with inflatables.

Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer towards the Middagh Street firehouse.

Photos by MK Metz

A creche adorns the side of the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral at Henry and Remsen streets.


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SantaCon Survival Guide; Brooklyn Heights Library Approval; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Scaffolding goes up around 75 Henry St. in Brooklyn Heights. Photo: MK Metz

 - The official 2015 SantaCon expert survival guide. [Brokelyn]

- After Levin obtained concessions, City Council committee approves Brooklyn Heights Library/ condo proposal. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Gravesend senior fatally shot at Sunset Park Popeyes. [Bensonhurst Bean]

- Neighbors to fight 40-story tower proposed for Pineapple Walk in Brooklyn Heights. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn psychologist is one of few who understands the mind of a terrorist... [Pix11]

- Snickers or Milky Way? Crazed attacker jabbed a partially-eaten chocolate bar into the face of a 33-year-old Brooklyn artist waiting for a subway in Times Square. [Daily News]

- Eric Garner’s daughter is mulling a run for Congress against Rep. Dan Donovan. [NY Post]

- Children of Brooklyn man who pleaded guilty to stabbing their mom to death disown their 'monster' father. [Daily News]

- A first look at the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park school building. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Tishman Construction, one of the largest construction companies in New York City, has agreed to pay more than $20 million in fines. [CBS]


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Brooklyn Heights Library Decision LIkely Thursday; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Polls are open in #SunsetPark pic.twitter.com/AXd9Nnj5ND

— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) December 9, 2015

- Eyes on Levin: After months of drama, the New York City Council is expected to vote on the controversial proposal to sell and redevelop the Brooklyn Heights Library on Thursday. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Fishing wire booby trap in Dyker Heights park sliced a finger, choked a dog. [Gothamist]

- Warning: Santa Con is hitting north Brooklyn this Saturday. [Brownstoner]

- Yaso Tangbao (translation: Uncle’s Soup Dumplings) are still getting the love in Downtown Brooklyn. [BK Magazine]

- Signature Bank at 26 Court St. reported burgled at 2 a.m. [Scanner]

-  A young man is wanted in a string of robberies of older people in East New York. [NY1]

- A Colorado man who has been homeless for the last six years won $500,000 in the state lottery on Friday. [Daily News]


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Scanner: Christmas Tree Vandal at Peas N' Pickles, Brooklyn Heights

Photo: MK Metz

From the scanner:

NYPD received a report of a man destroying Christmas trees in front of the grocery store at Henry and Clark streets in Brooklyn Heights.

The complaint, filed as criminal mischief, was dispatched at 1:25 a.m. Monday morning.

Cops from the 84th Precinct headed to the store.

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Tiny Floating Gardens in the Gowanus, and More Brooklyn Briefs

Sign in MetroTech says in Arabic, "The truth is I love you." MK Metz

 - Brooklyn postal worker follows a Muslim woman, spits at her. [NBC]

- Company builds tiny floating gardens to clean up the polluted Gowanus Canal. [Accuweather]

- A young punk was convicted Tuesday for the shooting death of a beloved homeless man who kept an eye on a street in Clinton Hill. [Daily News]

- The best Friendsgiving feast and late-night turkey sandwiches are in Bushwick. [Brooklyn Magazine]

- In some neighborhoods, the Dept. of Sanitation is picking up old clothes packed in special pink bags and donating them to Goodwill. [Bensonhurst Bean]

- Did you catch these photos of Brooklyn Heights over the past century? [Curbed]

- Councilman Antonio Reynoso is calling on state lawmakers to implement the so-called "Idaho Stop" for cyclists. [NY1]

-  Donate winter wear and get free treats in Brooklyn Heights this weekend. [Brownstoner]

- Brooklyn ranks no. 9 on a Yelp/Harris Poll survey that ranks the top 20 U.S. cities to shop local. [Biz Journal]

- Negligible discounts on inferior items: Kindly old man retailer patiently explains the scam that is Black Friday. [Brokelyn]

- Men's brains seem to age faster than women's. [NY Magazine]


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